Survivor   
 
Cancer, you never think it’s going to affect your life.  I was wrong.  My daughter was 20 years old when diagnosed with stage 3A ovarian cancer (sertoli leydig cell cancer).  There is so much fear attached to that word.  Fear of the unknown, fear of losing a loved one, fear of what the person is going to have to go through.  Cancer also became a teacher.  It taught me that there really are “small things” in life that need to be appreciated, like shopping together for that perfect hat, bandana, or wig, sitting during her chemo treatments, watching “ELLEN” on TV and laughing,  or even the hour drive to Chapel Hill where we just talked.  Those are moments I cherished.  Cancer also taught me that some things are really just “small things” and are not worth the fight

Though I must say that 2009 was definitely a difficult time watching my daughter endure surgery, chemo, losing her hair, and the roller coaster ride that goes with this disease, I would not change a moment of it.  It has brought us to where we are today.  I admire her courage, endurance, and strength through all of this and am so happy to say that she finished chemo June 18, 2009 and has been cancer free since.  No one knows what the future holds but having gone through cancer with my daughter has helped me to appreciate the moment.  Something I never would have done otherwise.